Thank you for those extensive replies. for you both. She was a nervous dog when we got her from our son. He had been given her by a builder who apparently wanted rid of her, so we don't know exactly what she's been through. But not much of it good, isn't it a shame they can't talk.

Our son would have had a very different response from my Rottweiler I had years ago Darksky. But our lab is a gentle lady. Its my daily walk around town that's upsetting me the most. Its good therapy for me but I can't see how I can carry on with it.

Is it possible she picks up on my anxiety too? I'm assuming it would be.